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Canada donates surplus H1N1 vaccine to WHO

Canada is donating five millions doses of its H1N1 vaccine to the World Health Organization to support its global pandemic relief efforts.

Syringes wait to be used at a H1N1 vaccination centre Nov. 6, 2009 in Montreal. Canada will donate extra vaccine to the World Health Organization. (RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO)

By Richard J. BrennanOttawa Bureau

Thu., Jan. 28, 2010

OTTAWA—Canada is donating 10 per cent of its H1N1 vaccine or five millions doses to the World Health Organization to support its global pandemic relief efforts, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced Thursday.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to contribute H1N1 flu vaccine to the WHO to help developing countries now that we have met Canada’s immediate needs,” Aglukkaq said in a statement, adding Canada is also making a $6 million contribution.

“The Government of Canada will work collaboratively with the WHO to ensure its vaccine donation is shipped in a timely way to those countries most in need,” she said.

The minister noted a Jan. 22 WHO report citing “intense H1N1 flu activity” in recent weeks in North Africa, South Asia and parts of Eastern Europe.

“Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to H1N1 flu because they have little or no access to needed resources to address this urgent health situation. CIDA’s support will help provide vaccine and increase their capacity to respond to the H1N1 flu among the most vulnerable in these countries,” International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda said.

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Earlier this month, Canada also shipped five million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to help Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Agency says there is a number of signs pointing to the end of the second wave of the H1N1 outbreak in Canada, including a decrease in reported rates of H1N1 infection, hospitalization and deaths.

However, Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones cautioned it’s too early to declare victory:

“We are continuing to encourage Canadians who have not yet been vaccinated to do so – not only because the H1N1 flu virus is still circulating in some communities, but also because getting vaccinated today will provide individuals with a strong base of protection in the event of a third H1N1 flu virus wave or if the virus drifts,” he stated.

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